CONGRESS RETRACTS $1 BILLION GRANT OFFER TO TURKEY
Support A1+!The Armenian Assembly today noted the Bush Administration's withdrawal of a $1 billion aid offer to Turkey aimed at compensating that country against the negative effects of the war in neighboring Iraq. The funding, which Congress approved following the onset of the war, was contingent on Turkish cooperation in Iraq.
At the request of President Bush, Congress rescinded the proposal since Ankara gave no indication it was willing to comply with the terms of the offer. The House of Representatives approved the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief, which thereby retracts the offer.
Among the stipulations for the funding is that the Turkish parliament agree not to deploy its country's forces to the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Ankara has expressed concerns about the growing influence of Kurds in Iraq, fearing that a possible independent Kurdish state there could lead to an uprising among ethnic Kurds within Turkey.
"We commend the Bush Administration for proposing, and Congress for concurring, that this assistance package be dropped given Turkey's continued lack of support for the U.S. effort, starting with its refusal in 2003 to allow coalition troops on its soil," said Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.
As relations between Washington and Ankara continue to strain, Assembly leaders noted that the U.S.-Armenia security relationship has in fact strengthened in recent months. President Bush has described Armenia as a "key partner with the United States" in the war against terrorism and an Armenian task force, comprised of transportation and de-mining personnel, was deployed to Iraq in December.
